10 Most Important College Football Recruiting Camps to Keep Your Eye on in 2016

With recruits in the 2017 class set to finish the final semester of their junior year, the spring and summer months represent one of the final chances to flash on the radar of the recruiting world.

Offers are bound to come in droves from colleges around the country, in part because of which players begin to emerge in the coming months in camps and in the seven-on-seven circuit.

Events such as The Opening and its subsequent regional camps around the country are marquee platforms for prospects around the nation to make a name for themselves.

Which camps should fans be paying close attention to in the coming months? 

Let’s take a look at 10 upcoming camps that figure to make plenty of headlines in the spring and summer.

Camps listed in chronological order

Orlando Nike Opening Regional

Date: Sun., Feb. 21

Location: Orlando, FL (NE Regional Park)

Prospects looking for invites to The Opening have to first show up and show out during one of the 14 regional camps scattered throughout the country.

The first of those camps gets underway this weekend in Orlando, as detailed by Student Sports. 

The Sunshine State is always one of the most talent-laden territories in recruiting, and this event is likely to bring out top players from the Central Florida and panhandle area of the state. 

Among the headliners scheduled to be competing are 5-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh—who is one of many stud prospects participating from Florida prep powerhouse IMG Academy—and 5-star athlete and current Georgia pledge Richard LeCounte.

Los Angeles Nike Opening Regional

Date: Sun., Feb. 28

Location: Los Angeles, CA (Redondo Union High School)

The second stop of Nike Football’s Opening Regional Camp series heads to Los Angeles to check out the top talent from the West Coast.

Two marquee prospects scheduled to be in attendance include 5-star corner Darnay Holmes and 5-star quarterback and current Texas A&M pledge Tate Martell. 

Additionally, top Golden State prospects such as 4-star running back Stephen Carr, 4-star athletes Thomas Graham and Greg Johnson—all of whom rate among the nation’s top 60 overall prospects in the 2017 cycle—are looking to make a case to add an extra star to their rating.

Given the wealth of quality prospects out west, the Los Angeles camp figures to be packed with elite recruits.

Miami Nike Opening Regional Camp

Date: Sun., March 6

Location: Miami, FL (American Heritage HS)

While the Orlando Nike Opening Regional Camp will feature some of the top talent in north and central Florida, the Miami regional figures to bring out the best of the best from the South Florida area. 

Colleges from around the country make a living recruiting Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties—which means that many observers will be paying close attention to the players who stand out at this event.

Among the early stars confirmed to take part in the action are 5-star receiver Trevon Grimes and 4-star quarterback and current Florida pledge Jake Allen. 

While those two players are already known quantities in the recruiting world, expect a number of new names to emerge on the scene after this camp.

Las Vegas Pylon Elite Camp

Dates: March 5-6 

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Similar to the Nike Opening regionals, Pylon Elite Camps are being held all over the country with the nation’s best prep seven-on-seven squads competing against one another.

Two such camps have already taken place in Orlando and Nashville. One of the next editions of the event is scheduled for Las Vegas on the first weekend of March. 

This is the 10th anniversary for Pylon—which helped bring the seven-on-seven team circuit to the forefront of the recruiting scene.

With marquee teams from the West Coast likely to be in attendance, a few stars are sure to emerge after a strong weekend in Sin City.

Atlanta Nike Opening Regional

Date: March 20

Location: Atlanta, GA (Buford HS)

With 11 prospects from the state of Georgia currently rated inside the nation’s Top 100 overall recruits in the 2017 cycle, the Atlanta Nike Opening Regional figures to be loaded with premier talent.

The top players from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are likely to be in attendance.

Last year’s defensive back MVP—4-star athlete Jamyest Williams—is likely to try and earn a return trip to The Opening this year.

The nation’s No. 2 corner—5-star Deangelo Gibbs—is one of the potential headliners likely to be in attendance.

Additionally, with top quarterbacks such as 4-stars Davis Mills, Bailey Hockman and current Clemson pledge Chase Brice calling the metro Atlanta area home, the Elite 11 portion of the camp has the potential to field a deep group who could eventually make it to The Opening.

Adidas Chicago Showcase

Date: March 26

Location: Chicago, IL (Pro Fitness and Sports Academy)

The next main event that will bring the top talent in the Midwest region together is the Adidas Chicago Showcase in late March. 

Last year, the camp featured prospects who went on to sign with schools such as Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, South Carolina and Stanford. 

Top talent from states such as Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio are likely to head to the Windy City for the camp. 

Among the confirmed attendees include 5-star receiver Jeff Thomas, 4-star receiver Hunter Rison and 2018 athlete Derion Kendrick.

New Jersey Nike Opening Regional

Date: May 1

Location: Florham Park, NJ (NY Jets facility)

The finest prospects from the Northeast region are expected to be present at the New Jersey Nike Opening Regional in May. 

Last year’s New Jersey camp featured top overall 2016 prospect Rashan Gary, and this year’s edition figures to send its share of prospects to The Opening. 

Another 2016 Opening attendee—4-star all-purpose back D’Andre Swift—is among the potential stars expected to compete for a trip to Oregon.

Top prospects from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and surrounding states are expected to show up and show out in the Garden State’s top spring camp showcase.

Sound Mind, Sound Body

Date: June 9-10

Location: Detroit, MI (Wayne State University)

Another camp showcase that is bound to attract top talent is this summer’s Sound Mind, Sound Body camp in Detroit. 

One unique factor that separates the SMSB camp is the fact that college coaches can attend the camp. 

Last year’s camp attracted big-name head coaches such as Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio, Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly and Ohio State’s Urban Meyer. 

Furthermore, the SMSB camp is expanding this year to include stops at cities such as Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Tampa and Washington D.C.

With the camp spreading to hit more regions throughout the country, each stop figures to be packed with talent and top coaches from the nation.

Rivals 100 Five-Star Challenge

Date: TBD 

Location: TBD

Another premier summer camp showcase will take place in the summer with the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge.

The camp is a culmination of a series of regional camps that will feature 10 regional camps, four regional quarterback challenges and three national camps, per Rivals.

Another feature that helps their camp series stand out is the involvement of former NFL players and coaches as instructors. 

It’s likely that this year’s Five-Star Challenge will be loaded with its share of the nation’s elite prospects in the 2017 cycle.

Elite 11/The Opening Finals

Date: July 5-10

Location: Beaverton, OR (Nike World Headquarters)

The summer camp’s premier showcase will take place in July as the nation’s top prospects gather to compete at The Opening.

Another headlining event features the nation’s top quarterbacks competing in the finals of the Elite 11.

Both camps feature coaches and instructors with NFL backgrounds putting prospects through a variety of competitions, as detailed by Student Sports.

With more than 150 of the nation’s top prospects from around the country gathered in one location, The Opening is a unique experience worthy of being billed as “football heaven.”

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani